Struggling Xander Bogaerts gets day off

OAKLAND — A slumping Xander Bogaerts received the day off on Saturday.

By Tim Britton

OAKLAND — A slumping Xander Bogaerts received the day off on Saturday.

Bogaerts is hitless in his last three games, and the rookie is batting just .157 with a .211 on-base percentage in the month of June.

“He’s working through some things right now at the plate. Good day to continue to just do that,” manager John Farrell said. “There’s been a number of pitches he’s gotten on the plate and just missed them. Whether that’s created a little frustration for him, I don’t think it’s him pressing to do more. I think there’s just been a stretch of time here where he’s just missed his pitch on the plate.”

Farrell had a sit-down conversation with Bogaerts to gauge his mindset. The two talked about Bogaerts’ move to third, and Farrell doesn’t believe it has adversely affected Bogaerts at the plate.

“He’s a good hitter that teams are game-planning specifically for,” Farrell said. “With that comes some peaks and valleys along the way.”

Jonathan Herrera started at third, going 0-for-3 with a walk. Farrell said Herrera will start Sunday as well in place of Stephen Drew against left-hander Tommy Milone.